grazing management Flashcards
What is rangeland
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Portions of the earth primarily providing grazing for
ungulates
Characteristics of Rangeland
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- Land that provides forage to grazing animals
- Land in it’s the natural state
- Land that is non-arable
- Stable
- Vast areas that require long-term planning
Range Management - What the is it?
Application of scientific principles to:
- Protect the resource (soil, plants and animals)
- Provide a livelihood for the owner/operator
8 things important about rangeland?
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- Animal Products
- Water & Watershed
Protection - Habitat for Wildlife
- Timber & Wood
Products - Coal, Minerals , Oil &
Gas - Aesthetics
- Biodiversity
- Carbon Sequestration
(Ecological Goods and Services)
Definitions of Grazing
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Does it have to be a pasture?
the act of animals feeding on green plant
material
• No, can be within a pasture field or other areas
where forage is available
Why is Grazing Important?
- important resource
- environmental benefits
- utilize vegetation
Rangelands are an important resource for livestock grazing. In Alberta, it is estimated that rangelands provide forage to about 14 per cent of the Alberta beef cattle herd.
The environmental benefits of well managed pasture, include reduced soil erosion; improved air and water quality; better plant diversity, vigor and production; and improved fish and wildlife habitat. … The overall soil quality improves with improved grazing management.
Grazing animals are able to utilize vegetation, a resource that humans cannot breakdown
Grasslands in Canadian Prairies are dominated by…
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Grasslands are dominated by grass species
which are adapted to areas with low rainfall
and warm temperatures
Why is Grazing important?
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B…..C
B and C … EE
FS “-“
• Our grasslands were developed under grazing
animals (specifically the bison) and fire
• When bison were almost eradicated cattle
replaced them
• Bison and Cattle are considered to be
ecological equivalents
• Fire suppression has had a negative impact on
our grasslands
Grazing and Fire
Agronomic Crops
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GofA
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TRNG
• Grazing in combination with fire play major
roles in the development of grasslands
• Growing of agronomic or tame crops has also
affected the grasslands
• Much of the grasslands are utilized for
agronomic crops
• The remaining native grasslands are limited to
areas of rough terrain or have other issues
that impact traditional agriculture
Why is Grazing important?
same stuff
• Grazing in combination with fire play major
roles in the development of grasslands
• Growing of agronomic or tame crops has also
affected the grasslands
• Much of the grasslands are utilized for
agronomic crops
• The remaining native grasslands are limited to
areas of rough terrain or have other issues
that impact traditional agriculture
Species used for graxzing…
two major groups
NS
AS
he vegetation utilized for grazing can be classified into two major groups – Native species • Grasses • Forbs • Woody – Agronomic species • Grasses • Legumes • Others • The majority of species are herbaceous and perennial
Plant factors to consider grazing
A/T
NS
aCorD
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• Agronomics/Tame species have been selected for
their fast establishment , quick regrowth &
palatability
• Native species have developed under our “tough”
prairie climate, but regrow later in the spring
• A complimentary or deferred grazing system
– Grazing the tame species earlier in the season
alleviates stress and overgrazing of the native species
Classification of Native species
– Decreaser - increaser N,GT, Un,un --invaders --E/A/T generally a sign of decreasing native range condition
• From an ecological perspective, native species can
be classified as follows
– Decreaser
• Native, palatable, grazing sensitive, animals first choice, bunchgrasses
– Increaser
• Native, grazing tolerant, may be unpalatable, unavailable
(low growing), poisonous, begin to take over if decreases
overgrazed
– Invaders
• Exotic/agronomic /tame or annual plants, generally a sign of decreasing native range condition
Effect of Grazing and overgrazing on Plant Species
• Under normal conditions 50% carry over
ensures good regrowth for plants
Function of Grazing
2
• Grazing maintains the plants in the active
growth cycle
• If the pasture plants are left they become
“decadent” and not as productive
Last stand of Tallgrass Prairie
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy21uSG3
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Pasture Conditioning
– Healthy
– Healthy with Problems
– Unhealthy
• Percentages of the dominant/climax plant community – Healthy • 75-100% – Healthy with Problems • 50-74% – Unhealthy • <50%
Stocking Rate
• Use of appropriate stocking rates based on the
condition of the pasture will maintain and can improve
the pasture condition
• Stocking rates are expressed as ??
• Expressed as Animal units/unit area (AU/Ha or AU/ac)
or Area/AUM (Ha/AUM or ac/AUM)
• AUM=?
• AUD=?
Animal Units (AU’s)…..
• 1 Animal Unit = 1000lb of animal • The area of land allowed per animal unit for the entire grazeable period of the year Animal Unit Month Animal Unit Day
AU Equivelents
AU = Animal units
These are approximate values: – Cattle: • Weaned calves 0.50 • Yearling heifers & steers ? • Mature cow with or without unweaned calf 1.00 • Bulls (2 yrs and over) ? – Horses: • Yearlings ? • 2 yr olds 1.00 • 3+ yrs ?
- 67
- 75
- 50
- 50j
